The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-24
A Story of Gov. BIB and T. A. Cor
win.
From. the Chicago Mda.


Many years ago Ohio had a Governor of
the name of Bibb. At the expiration of his
term he concluded to leave the State. He
bought farm in Winnebago county, Hi
nois, and not many miles from Rockford.
One of his family was daughter, and a
young man loved her and married her. The
people where the wedding occurred believed
in extending their congratulations in their
own way and this way was the charivari
party. Gov. Bib and his wife objected to
sage to the leaders that they must desist,
and If they attempted to carry out their plan,
somebody would get hurt In the midst
of what tbs Winnebago tribe considered
fun, the old man who had had to deal with
an Ohio Legislature got his gun. He took
| it from its place over the doorway, walked
out in the darkness and fired. Two of the
men in the party-estimable citizens who
liked bit of fun-fell wounded, and Gov.
Bib was arrested and taken to jail
Before the meeting of the grand jury
which indicted the Ex-Governor of Ohio, a
man rode into Rockford one evening and
tied his horse to post. He walked over to
the tavern, talked to the landlord a few
minutes, went to his room and to bed. The
landlord walked out and put the guests
horse in the stable The next morning the
guest called for his horse, was gone all dav
and came in at night. The appearance of
stranger in place like Rockford at that
time was an event, and as this one rode out
every day and came back for nearly two
weeks, people piled the landlord with ques-
lions, but he knew nothing-not even his
guests name.
The day came for the trial of Gov Bib,
indicted for murder. The character of the
men murdered and of the man who was in
dicted for the crime crowded the little CAPT
tai of Winnebago county, and the court
house was jammed. Gov. Bibb was brought
in by the Sheriff. The court asked him if
he had lawyer. He replied in a most dig
nified way that he had not. The Judge
asked SIS there no one to defend the old
manf The prisoner was standing like a
white pillar in the midst of the people pres
ent. He was silent and had the stateliness
of an Indian brave. There was another
man in the audience who quickly attracted
their attention. He was, like them. a
pioneer in manner and dress, but the years
had not yet made any inroads upon his face.
He had not the acquaintance of tailor OF
barber. He was slovenly attired. He
walked inside the bar, threw his old SLOUGH
hat upon the table, and, Strengthening him
self to his fullest measure, he said: "Your
honor, I'll defend the old man."
"Who are you3 Where do you come
fromg' asked the court
''In the country that | hail from, your
honor" replied the stranger, whose words
were clear cut, "they call me Tom Corwin. y
He was the stranger who had ridden into
town, and who had excited the wonder of
the community. He had Travelled all the
way from Ohio on horseback. He had Wis
tied nearly every house in Winnebago coun-
ty, felt the pulse of the people, learned,
%Ao~v
presented himself as counsel for the pris-
oner. When he told the Judge who he was
and what he was there for, he did it in a
manner which crowded the little town there
after during the trial. | am told that when
he addressed the jury the doors were taken
from the hinges of the court house and the
sash from the windows. so that the people
without could catch the matchless eloquence
of the man who hailed from Ohio.
Gov. Bibb was acquitted, and in the scene
that followed he said 'All have is nv
farm; take it, and when | am able will
pay you more
Corwin replied; "Why am still in your
debt. You took me from the towpath in
Ohio and gave me my first opportunity
And when | heard you were in trouble
rode out here to help you"
One morning the old gray horse which
had brought the stranger to Rockford was
brought around to the front door of the tav.
ern The landlord brought out a pair OF
saddle bags and put them over the saddle.
The street was crowded with people from
the town and the country The lawyer who
had defended Gov. Bib came out. mounted
wheeled his horse and rode away. The land
lord watched as the horse and rider disap-
peared in the distance. He lived TO tell the
story many a day, and always finished il
with the remark "He was the easiest
suited man, and the funniest man, and took
the least kiver to keep him warm that ever
stonned at the tavern y